ABSTRACT
Young people who sexually abuse present with a range of developmental, social and interpersonal needs, and recent literature has increasingly promoted a holistic, developmentally sensitive approach to work with this group of young people (O’Callaghan, 2002; Rich, 1998; Ryan, 1999). Furthermore, the evidence base evaluating the effectiveness of interventions with young people who sexually abuse, whilst limited in its extent, also supports a holistic and multisystemic approach (Borduin et al., 1990; Swenson et al., 1998; Worling and Curwen, 2000). This chapter addresses some of the offence specific work frequently included in therapeutic programmes. In doing so we review some key areas of the literature pertinent to each offence specific target and then outline our current approach to clinical intervention based on our work at G-MAP (a UK service for young people who sexually abuse). In all illustrative case examples used in this chapter identifying details have been changed. We feel it is important to emphasise that the approaches described here should be considered as one component of a holistic strategy. A challenge, therefore, for services working with this group of young people is to provide a structure for assessment and intervention that encompasses the broad tapestry of an individual’s developmental needs and forms connections with others in the young person’s system who will be contributing to various aspects in the overall plan aimed at helping the young person develop a healthy lifestyle free from sexually abusive behaviour.
